EFECTUL PRODUSELOR PE BAZĂ DE CALCIU ASUPRA CALITĂŢII CIREŞELOR ŞI PRUNELOR EFFECT OF CALCIUM BASED PRODUCTS ON CHERRIES AND PLUMS QUALITY

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1 EFECTUL PRODUSELOR PE BAZĂ DE CALCIU ASUPRA CALITĂŢII CIREŞELOR ŞI PRUNELOR EFFECT OF CALCIUM BASED PRODUCTS ON CHERRIES AND PLUMS QUALITY Marin Florin Cristian 1, Calinescu Mirela 1, Sumedrea Mihaela 1, Chitu Emil 1, Tănăsescu Nicolae 2, Moga Cristina 3 1 Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania 2 National Research Institute for Horticultural and Biotechnology Stefanesti, Romania 3 OMYA Calcita Romania SRL Abstract Cherry and plum are two major fruit species grown in Romania which are extending rapidly due market demands, the stimulative price of the fruits and various possibilities for valorization Nowadays farmers needs to adopt modern growing systems and sequences, to produce high quality fruits. Therefore, researches in order to increase the fruits quality and loses reduction due to fruit crack or breakdown, need using innovative calcium based products. The researches conduced at Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania reveal that application of calcium based products enhanced the fruits firmness and decreased the fruit cracking on Skeena cherry variety. In addition, application of calcium based products on plum increased the production, fruits mass and firmness. On Carpatin, variety a good correlation was found between plums total sugar content and soluble dry mater content R 2 = and respectively r= Also, the calcium based products applied in cherry and plum culture, reduced the losses caused by the brown rot - Monilia laxa. Cuvinte cheie: cires, prun,calitatea fructelor, calciu. Key words: cherry, plum, fruits quality, calcium. 1. Introduction Cherry is appreciated for its fruits rich in sugars (16g/100g), vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, minerals: Ca 13-16mg, Fe 0,32-0,36, Mg 9-11mg, Mn 0,07-0,112 mg, P mg, K mg, Zn 0,07-0,1mg/100g (USDA Nutrient Database, 2017), for its flowers and for the high quality wood. The fruits market demands, the stimulative price of the fruits and various possibilities for valorization, drives the farmers to extend the plum and cherry cultures, to adopt modern growing systems, with new assortments, according the consumers requests (As ănica, 2012). Plum is the main fruit species in Romania, and is growing almost everywhere from the Carpathian hills to the plains area. Our Country is holding the 3 rd place in the world after China and Serbia and the 2 nd one in Europe after Serbia. Regarding the plums production, Romania holds the 4 th place worldwide after China, Serbia and USA and the 2 nd one in Europe after Serbia (Coman et al., 2012). During the last decade, plum production has varied from 250,000 to 400,000 t/year, which is below the national potential (the 40-year average is over 565,000 t (Botu I. et al., 2010; Sumedrea D., Sumedrea M., 2011). The plum fruits are rich in sugars (16-20%) K (100.0mg/%), P (18.0mg/%) Ca (12.0mg/%), Mg (10.0mg/%), Na (1.0mg/%), had a low proteins (0.8 g%) and lipids (0.2 g%) content, but many vitamins, vitamins A (300mg/%), B1, B2, P and C, are poor in calories 75 / 100 g, and they are designated for distillation (70-85%) processing and fresh consumption (Branişte and Drăgoi D., 1999). Cherry culture is one of the fruit species in development in the entire World and Romania is holding the 3 rd place regarding the average yield (11.94 t/ha) and the 8 th place as regard the average production (81842 t/year). The cherry c rop is present on every continent Europe is holding 65% of the World production, USA and Canada 15%, followed by Asiatic and Latin America s countries. (Branişte and Dragoi, 1999). Under the such conditions, it was foreseen the need to carry out new researches in order to increase the fruits quality and reduction of the loses due to fruit crack or breakdown, using innovative calcium based products 2. Material and methods The researches regarding the fruit quality improvement and loses reduction caused by fruit crack or breakdown, were conducted during at Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti-Maracineni. For cherries, the studies were done on Skeena variety grafted on Gisela 5 rootstock, planted at 4.00 x 2.00 (1250 trees/ha) and also trained as a spindle. For plums the studies were conducted in a 10 years old high density plum orchard, on the Carpatin variety grafted on Sant Julien rootstock, planted at 4.00 x 2.25 (1111 trees/ha) and trained as a spindle. The soil along the tree rows was maintained using a 53

2 glyphosate based herbicide (360 g a.i./l), applied at the rate of 4.00 l commercial product/ha. Between the rows, the orchard floor was maintained with grasses and trimmed three times per season. The weeds development stages were quantified using BBCH evaluation scale (Maier et al., 2001). The calcium based products experimented were displayed three times per season, in four replicates of six trees, using an STIHL 400 SR backpack sprayer. During the study period, many experimental data were collected, including: meteorological data ( using the system WatchDog with Specware Pro 9 software), ph of the experimented products (using Hanna ph meter and BestWay International sensitive paper), mean fruit weight, mean fruit number per kg, mean fruit firmness N (using the tester HPE II FFF Qualitest International Inc.), the average cracking percentage and diseases incidence. The data were stored and processed using MS Excel 2010 facilities. 3. Results and discussions Evaluation of the figures 1-4 indicate the fact that the products based on calcium carbonate Omya Pro Calcium and Calcium chloride applied in cherry culture, increased the production quality and reduced the loses due to the fruit crack. Analyses of the obtained results drive us to the conclusion that on Skeena cherry cultivar, in the variants treated with calcium based products, the number of fruits per kg was between , compared with the untreated control where this indicator was In addition, the fruit average mass in the treated variants was g, compared with the fruit average mass in the untreated control, where this indicator was 7.26g. The highest value of fruit firmness was registered in the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, 77.57N versus 75.92N in the variant treated with calcium chloride. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant the fruit firmness was 73.90N. Opposite, the fruits crack registered low values in the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, only 2.5%, compared with the variant treated with calcium chloride where the cracking percentage was 10%. In the untreated control variant, after 48h of immersion in distillate water, the cracking percentage of cherries was 23.8%. Assessment of the figure 5 indicate that on Carpatin plum variety the application of the calcium based products increased the fruit production at q/ha and fruit mass at g. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruit production was q/ha and the fruit mass was g. In the figure 6 one can see that in the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, the average fruit firmness was 58.22N, and 56.67N in the variant treated with calcium chloride. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the plums mean firmness was 52.82N. Also, in the case of the dry mater content, the differences between the products effects were small. In the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, the fruits soluble dry matter content was 15.70% and in the variant treated with calcium chloride, the soluble dry matter content was 15.58%. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruits soluble dry matter content was 15.10%. Examination of the figure 7 demonstrate that calcium application in plum orchards is necessary and opportune because a good correlation was found between plums content in sugars (%) and the soluble dry matter content. Under the experimental conditions, the calculated regression coefficients were R2= and respectively r= Assessment of the figure 8 reveal that calcium based product application influenced in a positive way the colour of 'Carpatin' plum variety. In the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, the coloration intensity (CIE*L) was versus in the variant treated with calcium chloride. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruits coloration (CIE*L) was Another series of evaluations, aimed to show the effect of calcium based products on specific diseases attack on plums in the orchard and during temporary cool storage. During 2016, under a standard phytoprotection program, application of calcium based products kept the pathogens under the economic damage threshold, especially the brown rot. In the figure 9 one can see that after a week of cool storage, followed by another week at room temperature, in the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, on plum fruits, the brown rot - Monilia laxa incidence DISIC% was 3.19%. At the same time, in the variant treated with Calcium chloride, the brown rot incidence DISIC% was 7.86%. Comparatively in the untreated control variant, the brown rot incidence DISIC% was 23.80%. 4. Conclusions On cherry: The highest value of fruit firmness was registered in the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium 77.57N versus 75.92N in the variant treated with calcium chloride. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruit firmness was 73.90N. 54

3 The fruits crack registered low values in the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium (2.5%), comparative with the variant treated with calcium chloride where the cracking percentage was 10%. In the untreated control variant, the cracking percentage of cherries was 23.8%. On plum: The application of the calcium based products increased the fruit production at q/ha and fruit mass at g. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruit production was q/ha and the fruit mass was g. The average fruit firmness was 58.22N, and 56.67N in the variant treated with calcium chloride. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the plums mean firmness was 52.82N. In the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, the fruits soluble dry matter content was 15.70% and in the variant treated with calcium chloride, the soluble dry matter content was 15.58%. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruits soluble dry matter content was 15.10%. A good correlation was found between plums total sugar content and soluble dry mater content R 2 = and respectively r= In the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, the coloration intensity (CIE*L) was versus in the variant treated with calcium chloride. Comparatively, in the untreated control variant, the fruits coloration (CIE*L) was In the variant treated with Omya Pro Calcium, on plum fruits, the brown rot - Monilia laxa incidence DISIC% was 3.19%. At the same time, in the variant treated with Calcium chloride, the brown rot incidence DISIC% was 7.86%. Comparatively in the untreated control variant, the brown rot incidence DISIC% was 23.80%. The products based on calcium carbonate Omya Pro Calcium and Calcium chloride applied in cherry and plum culture, increased the fruits production and quality and reduced the loses due to the fruits crack and brown rot. References 1. Albertini A., Della Strada G., Monografia di cultivar di cilegio dolce, ISF Roma, 349pp., Progetto finanzato da MAF; 2. Asănică A., Cireşul în plantaţii modern-între compatibilitate şi încompatibilitate, Editura CERES, Bucureşti, 152 pp., ISBN, ; 3. Branişte N., Drăgoi D., Ghidul pomicultorului. Cultura speciilor pomicole, a arbuştilor fructiferi şi a căpşunului în România, Editura Paralela 45, Piteşti, 140 pp., ISBN ; 4. Branişte N., Drăgoi D., Cultura Prunului, Editura Paralela 45, Piteşti, 134 pp., ISBN ; 5. Botu, I., Botu, M., Achim, G. and Baciu, A., Plum Culture in Romania: Present Situation and Perspectives. Acta Horticulturae. (ISHS) 874: Coman M., Butac M., Sumedrea D., Dutu I., Iancu M., Mazilu C., Plopa C., Plum culture. Present status and perspectives, ISHS Acta Horticulturae 968: II EUFRIN Plum and Prune Working Group Meeting on Present Constraints of Plum Growing in Europe. 7. Schwartzkopf C., Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium. How they relate to plant growth, UGSA Green section, 2 pp. 8. Sumedrea D., Sumedrea M., Pomicultura Generală, CD, 191 pp., Editura Invel Multimedia Bucureşti, ISBN *** Calcium Basics, Spectrum Analytics Inc., 1087 Jamisom Road, OH USA, 4 pp. 10. *** Calcium Role, NutriFacts N.5., IPNI, USA 2 pp. 11. *** Calcium Role, Tree Fruit and Soil Nutrition WSU Tree Fruit & Extension Center, 1100 NW Avenue, Wenatchee, WA, USA 2 pp. 12. *** Cireşul, cultura la care România este pe locul 3 în lume ca productivitate, *** Faostat". Faostat.fao.org. 10 August *** Role of calcium in delaying softening apples and cherries, WSU Tree Fruit & Extension Center, 28 January 2017, 9 pp. 14. ***USDA Nutrient Database,

4 Figures and Tables: Table 1. Crop development stage and meteorological conditions at calcium based products application on cherry, RIFG Pitesti, Romania, Lat. N 44,513; Long. E 24,52; Alt. 287m T. Date BBCH MedT HR Wmin Wmax2 LWet Weeds [*C] [%] [Km/h] [Km/h] [h] coverage ,3 2,5 0 clean ,4 65 2,9 3,0 0 clean ,9 60 2,8 2,7 2 clean Table 2. Crop development stage and meteorological conditions at calcium based products application on plum, RIFG Pitesti, Romania, Lat. N 44,513; Long. E 24,52; Alt. 287m T. Date BBCH MedT HR Wmin Wmax2 LWet Weeds [*C] [%] [Km/h] [Km/h] [h] coverage ,4 93 0,1 6,0 3,0 clean ,6 74 1,8 22,0 0,3 clean ,0 64 4,0 32,0 0,0 clean Table 3. Calcium based products experimented on cherry RIFG Pitesti, Romania, Lat. N 44,513; Long. E 24,52; Alt. 287m Variant / product Untreated control - Calcium chloride OMYA PRO CALCIUM Active ingredients Unit Doza Calcium chloride 16.8% (223g/L) Calcium carbonate 90.0%, calcium oxide 50.4% Calcium 36% g/10l 0 g/100l 0 g/1000l 0 ml/10l 50 ml/100l 500 ml/1000l 5000 g/10l 50 g/100l 500 g/1000l 5000 Table 4. Calcium based products experimented on plum RIFG Pitesti, Romania, Lat. N 44,513; Long. E 24,52; Alt. 287m Variant / product Untreated control - Calcium chloride OMYA PRO CALCIUM Active ingredients Unit Doza Calcium chloride 16.8% (223g/L) Calcium carbonate 90.0%, calcium oxide 50.4% Calcium 36% g/10l 0 g/100l 0 g/1000l 0 ml/10l 50 ml/100l 500 ml/1000l 5000 g/10l 43,5 g/100l 435 g/1000l

5 Fig. 1. Mean number of fruits / 1 kg on Skeena cherry variety RIFG Pitesti, Romania Lat N, Long E, Alt. 287m Fig. 2. Average mass of fruits on Skeena cherry variety Fig. 3. Average firmnes on Skeena cherry variety 57

6 Fig. 4. Fruits craking on Skeena cherry variety Fig. 5. Fruit mass and fruit production on Carpatin plum variety Fig. 6. Influence of treatments with OMYA PRO CALCIUM vs. Calcium chloride, on fruits firmness and dry matter content of Carpatin plum variety, 58

7 Fig. 7. Correlation between dry matter content and sugars content of Carpatin plum variety treated with OMYA PRO CALCIUM vs. Calcium chloride, Fig. 8. Influence of treatments with OMYA PRO CALCIUM vs. Calcium chloride on fruits color (CIE L* ), Fig. 9. Monilia laxa (brown rot) incidence on Carpatin plum variety 59